The global crisis of young democracies can only be overcome by a new social contract Comparing the transformation crises in young democracies such as the Philippines (2000/2001), Venezuela (2001/2002), Taiwan (2004,2006), Bangladesh (2007), Kenya (2007), Bolivia (2008), Kyrgyzstan (2005, 2010), Georgia (2007), Ukraine (2004, 2013), Egypt (2013), Turkey (2013), Thailand (2006, 2008, 2013/14), similar patterns emerge. At the core of these transformation crisis lies a struggle over the social and political order. 1. Socio-economic development has deepened the crisis of social justice. Peripheral populations demand equal opportunities to participate in political, social, economic and cultural life. 2. Clever political entrepreneurs cater to these grievances with social policies, allowing them to ride to power on a wave of electoral support from the rural poor and emerging middle classes. 3. Once in power, these elected leaders quickly turn into autocrats. Following the zero sum winner-takes-it-all logic of patrimonial culture, they reward supporters, protect clients, distribute spoils, favor kin, cut out non-supporters and crush their opponents. 4. From the perspective of the middle class of the capital, the corruption, nepotism, and incompetence of elected politicians is seen as a fall-back into darker times. More so, the disregard for the rule of law, strong arm politics, human rights violations, and the abuse of power to undermine democratic checks and balances are perceived as a threat. Finally, the urbanite middle class fears that “corrupt politicians use our tax money to buy votes from the greedy poor with populist policies”. 5. As a consequence of the ongoing crisis of social justice, the rural poor, who often for the first time benefit from public policies, vote the elected autocrats back into power time and again. 6. Urban elites and middle classes grow increasingly desperate and angry, turning to extra-constitutional means to topple the elected autocrat. In a remarkable twist, it is often the same veteran democracy activists who were fighting against authoritarian regimes who now turn against the very liberal democracy they installed in the first place. Hundreds of thousands of middle class men and women are marching in the streets, often clashing with police, and calling for interventions by the judiciary and the military. 7. Despite military coups, judiciary interventions and constitutions rewritten by “caretaker governments”, many elected autocrats manage to come back with the support of the subaltern population. 8. As long as the crisis of social justice is not addressed, the transformation conflict continues… In order to overcome the transformation crisis, society needs to settle on a new social contract. What is needed is a social compromise between the middle class ideal of clean and accountable governance, and the longing of the majority population for equal opportunities. Only such a broad societal coalition can forge a moderate democratic center to marginalize the extremes, and set democracy of a solid social foundation.
Posted on: Sat, 14 Jun 2014 06:55:27 +0000